Overhead lighting, sound-absorbing, heating, and air conditioning



G. P. WAKEFIELD 2,833,199 OVERHEAD LIGHTING SOUND-ABSORBING, HEATING, AND

May 6, 1958 AiR CONDITIONING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 .& 8

INVENTOR. 660176! IVA/(if/ZLD Q R Q n ,0

IM A TTORNEY5- May 6, 1958 e. P. WAKEFIELD 2,833,199

OVERHEAD LIGHTING, SOUND-ABSORBING, HEATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING Filed Feb. 23. 1954 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

GEO/76f PI V/I/ffF/[LD M Fla/Ml ,ev'roramsys- May 6, 1958 e. P. WAKEFIELD 2,833,199

OVERHEAD LIGHTING. SOUND-ABSORBING, HEATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2 3. 1954 I7 l9 5 6/ la; o 16 I U /8 h (v 'K W mllmm z 7 62 34". "I" u- I HI ;II n.- [/4 h. WWW

- '14 4 INVENTOR. 2 8 9- 7 560%: P. u mrzr/aa 7102 Mars.

Claims. (CI. 98-40) The present invention relates generally'as indicated to an overhead lighting, sound-absorbing, heating, and'air conditioning system affording pleasing environmental conditions such as over-all, diffused illumination for visual comfort, sound-absorption for auditory comfort, and diffusion heating and air conditioning for draft-free personal comfort. In addition, this system may include features concerning personal safety as, for example, fire protection. 1

Certain aspects of this invention are, in a broad sense, covered by my Patent No. 2,659,807 dated Nov. 17, 1953, insofar as the overhead lighting structure, as such, and its combination with heating or air conditioning is concerned, and by the Herbert L. Beckwith Patent No. 2,659,808 dated Nov. 17, 1953, insofar as the combination of an overhead lighting structure with sound-absorption and/or with heating and air conditioning is con cerned. I

However, the present invention progresses beyond the contemplations of the aforesaid patents in the unique arrangement of the heating and ventilating duct work in combination-with the illuminationand sound-absorption features of the system so that neither the illumination nor the sound-absorption is impaired in efficiency but instead is, in some respects, enhanced.

,It 'is one main object of this invention to provide a unitary structure having a'high degree of flexibility to accommodate daily and seasonal changes in heating and" ventilating requirements.

; Another object of this invention is to provide an over-j headsystern as aforesaid wherein the heatingand ventilating requirements may be readily modified according to the use to which the room space therebeneath is put.

Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead system as aforesaid which, in new construction, provides afacile and. economical manner of finishing off a room space, or, in fact, the entire floor area ofta buildingftoprovide (a) overall, diffused illumination of de-- sired intensity throughout the entire area or selected portions thereof; (b) eflicient sound-absorption throughout the entire area or selected portions thereof; (0) controlled heating and air conditioning for the entire area or selected portions thereof; and (d) subdivision of the entire area or selected portions thereof into separate room of varying sizes, the latter feature being achieved as by means of partitions detachably supported by the overhead structure. i

'Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead system as aforesaid which may be easily and quickly installed :and which, in its preferred form, involves only the following steps: 1 I

(1) Mounting of trunk ducts for heating and air conditioning to the roof trusses or ceiling proper of the room area;

(2) suspending lighting fixtures in spaced relation be low said trunk ducts;

' of "the "illumination requirements.

2,833,199 enema May 6, less ice (3) suspending a support framework for light-diffusing panels and sound-absorbing bafl'les from said lighting fixtures; i

(4) Connecting flexible ducts from said trunk ducts to air outlet ports in said framework; and

i ('5) 'Mounting light-diffusing panels and sound-absorbing bafiles to said framework.

Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead system of the character indicated? which includes a light cliflusing sub-ceiling area through which daylight may be admitted into the roomlas by means of windows or glass block walls disposed above said sub-ceiling, whereby.

the south, the west,, and the east walls of the building need not have any window areas at all. below the subceiling; Thus, there is. noproblem of, pulling shades, closing Venetian blinds, etc. to cut out the glare of sunlight and the necessity of relying continuously on artificial lighting. In other words, diffused daylight, as aforesaid, and direct daylight through north wall windows will be used, at time, to replace or to augment artificial light- Another object of this invention is to provide an overhead system of the character indicated wherein the suption will become apparent as the'following description proceeds. H

".To' the accomplishment of the foregoing and-. relatedz ends," theinvention, then, comprises the features :hereinafterfully described and particularly pointed. out in the claims, the following description and theannexeddrawings setting forth in detail certain.;illustrative embo-di+ meritsv ofthe invention, these being indicative, however, i of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of .the invention-may be empl0yed.--;- 7

Insaid annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-section viewthrough a one; story ofiice building equipped with;the presentsoverhead lighting, sound-absorbing;heating, andair condiy t c t,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section view of th'eFig-"l system, such sectionhaving been taken substantially along the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

,Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section view on 'asomewhat enlarged scale taken above the support framework for'theacoustical bafiles and light dilfusing panels, such section being indicated by the line 3- -3, Fig; 1;,

a Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the support framework for the acoustical baflles and light-diffusing panels, showing connection ofan air supply duct to said framework; v a

Fig.15 is an enlarged cross-section verticallythrough the support framework and acoustical balfie mounted thereto to show the flow of air from the air' supply duct through the perforated acoustical bafiie casing;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified'form of thev support framework and airdifiusing baffie; and

Big. 7-jis a diagrammatic cross-section-viewof a modi- General structure Referring now more specifically 'to the drawings, and

chords of said trusses 3 maybe, for example, between 14 and 15 ft., and in one specific example, this distance was 14 Thedistance from the floor F to the bottom of the light-diffusing pa'nel and acoustical batlle.

support framework 5 was 9 2%";

The roof trusses 3 may be spaced apart, for example,

a distance of 4 ft., and hung from the bottom chords thereof are a plurality of'air supply trunk ducts 6:, 7, 8,

and 9 which will presently be described in detail in'fconnection with Fig. 2

Also hung from said roof trusses 3 as by means of hanger rods, wires, or equivalent means 10 are a parallel series of electrical channels 11 which, in the case of 4 ft. spacing of said roof trusses 3, would accommodate 4 ft. long fluorescent tubular illuminators 12 having their ends fitted in sockets 14 carried by said channels 11. Thus, the 4 ft. long illuminators 12 would extend in parallel rows lengthwise of the building which, in this case, is 120 ft., the lamps 12 preferably being spaced 16 in. apart and approximately 3 ft. below the bottom chords of the roof trusses and approximately 1' 9" above the light-diffusing panels to be presently described.

Then, hung from said electrical channels ll'agai'n as by means of suspending means such as hanger rods, wires, or the like 16, are a series of downwardly-opening channels 17 at 4 ft, intervals. Another series of channels 18, also spaced apart 4 ft., extend lengthwise'of the building to form with channels 17 a grid-like framework 5, the intersections of which consist of couplings 19 to which said channels 17 and 18 are joined in perpendicular relation.

Over-all diffused illumination As already described, the lighting fixtures comprise parallel rows of electrical channels 11 spaced apart, for example, 4 ft. (to correspond with the spacing of the roof trusses 3) fro'r'n which'framework 5 consisting of channels 17 and 18 andcouplings 19 are hung or suspendedby means of the hanger rods or wires 16. Each electrical channel 11 comprises, for example, five lengths secured together in abutting relation by suitable clamp means (not shown).- Each said 40-foot length of channel 11 is equipped with oppositely facing paired sockets 14 for the tubular illuminators 12. Channel spacers 20 ex-' tending crosswise between adjacent channels 11 will be secured thereto at spaced intervals therealong so as to maintain said channels in desired spaced apart, parallel relation to accommodate said illuminators. Said spacers 20 also serve as conduits for the wires which electrically join together the sockets 14 in pairs to accommodate the ends of the respective illuminat'ors 12. l i

The support framework 5 briefly described above is gridlike inform having square openings therethrough which in this case are slightly less than 4 ft. (the center-to-center distance between the receiving channels 17 and 18) which constitute said framework. As best shownin Figs. 3 and 4, there is mounted in each framework opening a lightdiffusing panel 15 which comprises, for example, a translu cent plastic pan or plate having therearound an extruded metal frame as of aluminum provided adjacent 1 one end on two opposite sides with trunnions 26 which seat in ahgularly disposed" slots 27 formed in the adjacent receiving channels 17 Adjacent the other endof said opposite sides are latch elements 28 which cooperate with latches 29 carried by the adjacent receiving channels 17, such cooperating latch elements 28 and 29 preferably being arranged so that, when that end portion of the panel 15 is swung upwardlyrfrom a vertical position, about the trunnions 26, the elements 28' and 29 will engage and thus support the panel in a horizontal position; and then, when that end of the panel is forced upwardly from the horizontal position, the latch elements 28 and 29 will disengage to permit said panel to swing to a vertical position. If it be desired to remove the panel 15 for cleaning or replacement, the same may be raised, when in its vertical position, and then turned in the framework opening so that the trunnions 26 clear the space between the adjacent channels 17. The panel thus can be dropped down.

Normally, as when relamping, it is only necessary to swing the panel 15 to a vertical position whereby a maintenance man may reach up through the framework opening to remove and replace burned out lamps 12. Such opening with panel 15 swung down, is yet large enough to permit performance of other servicing or re-arrangement in connection with the heating or cooling duct work disposed above the electrical channels 11.

As is now evident, with the light diffusing panels 15 in place, there is provided over-all diffused illumination of the entire room area from wall to wall.

Sound-absorption may extend.

The acoustical bafile casings 37 are perforated, as shown, the perforations occupying an area of approximately 25% of the surface area of the baffle. Specifically, thebaflle casings 37 are each approximately 6 in. deep and 3 in. wide at the top, tapering down to approximately 1%; in. at the bottom, and the perforations therethrough are of .057 in diameter, there being approximately 96 holes per square in. r 6

Within and adjacent the ends of each bafile casing 37 are flanged spacers 40 made of the same perforated sheet stock as the bafile casings, said spacers being designed to support within said casing, a pad of sound-absorbing material 41 of suitable materialsuch as glass fibers or glass wool. The acoustic pad or filler 41 thus supported in spaced relation to the walls of the casing therearound may be approximately in. thick, so as to define openings on opposite sides thereof coextensive with the length of the bafile casing 37 of 1% in. width at the top, tapering to in. width at the bottom.

It has been found that an acoustical bafile made up as described above is efficient in absorbing sounds or noises of low, intermediate, and high frequencies, viz. in the frequency range of 125 to 4000 cycles; and although the batfie casings 37 are only about 25% open, they are substantially acoustically transparent. It is to be noted that the spacing of the acoustic filler 41 from the walls of the batlle casing 37 permits cleaning, washing, repainting of the bafilc casing without in any way affecting the sound-absorbing properties of the battle as a whole.

Partitioning As shown in Fig. 2, the 40 ft. by 120 ft. room area may be subdivided into numerous oflices, hallways, etc. of various sizes, the length and width of each ofiice or other space being variable in 4-foot increments corresponding with the spacing of the receiving channels 17 and 18 of the support framework 5. As best shown in Fig. 1, the partitions 45 have upper edge portions which are snugly fitted between the lower edge portions of the receiving channels 17 and 18, the lower ends of said partitions being secured to the floor F by any suitable means such as by nailing, byboltingetc. These partitions'45 may include glazed areas (either transparent or translucent) or may Heating and air conditioning The trunk ducts 6, 7, 8, and 9 were previously referred to and, as best shown in Fig. 2, said ducts are of conventional form and extend lengthwise of the building from a multiple-zone-type air conditioning fan unit 50 in a utility 'room 51 at one end of the building. Said unit 50 for a building of the size indicated has a cooling capacity of approximately 30 tons, and has a steam coil for heating. The'unit delivers 8500 cubic ftI per minute of air to the rooms, plus 5000 cubic ft. per minute to the plenum above the light-difiusing sub-ceiling, that is, the space above framework and panels 15 thereof. This unit will be provided with a supply air duct 52'frorn which the air passes through a conventional filter 53 into the unit proper for heating or cooling of the air as it is desired and for conditioning the air, that is, humidifying or de-humidifying the same as conditions require. The duct 54 is the return duct from the ceiling plenum, and the duct 55 supplies fresh air from above the roof 4. The compressor for unit 50 is indicated by the reference numeral56. v

The outside walls2 of the buildingwill be provided with return air grills 60 in each 4-foot bay which lead through tthe sill to a concentric trench (not shown) back to the multiple-zone-type air conditioning fan unit 50.

The supply ducts 6 and) supply either hot or cool air through '4 inch diameter flexible ducts 61 to selected portions of the offices into which the building is divided by partitions 45. In order to insure uniform diffusion of the heated or cooled air, as the case may be, into the respective oflices, the 4 in. diameter flexible ducts 61 are connected to transition sections 62 connected to rectangular openings through the top web of the associated receiving channel 17 or 18. Each transition section has a damper 63 to control air flow. The air thus entering the receiving channel flows therethrough and down into the openings defined between the acoustic filler 41 and the baffle casing 37, and from such openings uniformly oozes or percolates through the perforated casing 37 into the room space. shown in Fig. 5. As previously mentioned, the multiple-zone unit 50 is arranged to deliver heated air at the rate of 8500 C. F. M., and as is customary, the trunk ducts 6 and 9 are of gradually decreasing cross-section size to insure substantially uniform flow of air through each of the flexible ducts 61, one or more of which lead into each oflice. As shown in Fig. 2, for example, the large general ofiice at the upper left has nine flexible ducts 61 connected to a corresponding number of receiving channels 17 or 18.

The remaining channels 17 or 18 to which no flexible ducts 61 are connected are nevertheless provided with openings through which air in the plenum above the light-diffusing sub-ceiling may pass into the room space. Air is supplied to such plenum by means of the trunk duct 7 which has a series of openings 65 at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong, and thus heated or cooled air, as the case may be, oozes down through the remaining perforated bafile casings 37 into the respective otfices; and, as aforesaid, the rate of flow of air into the plenum for the size of building herein involved is about 5000 C. F. M.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that heated or cooled air is introduced into each room from the entire The flow of the air is best 7 6 ceiling area thereof'aand the capacity is'such that there are' approximately 15 air changes per hour, the air uni formly flowing downwardly and being returned through the floor or baseboard return air grills 60 by way of the previously mentioned trench to the multiple-zone unit 50 for re-use together with fresh air taken from the roof and any excess air in the plenum.

In addition to the three trunk ducts 6, 7, and 9 just described, there is a cold deck supply duct 8 which has outlets at desired longitudinally spaced intervals therealong equipped with automatic modulating dampers 66' which are normally closed, but whichmodulate to open position as desired so as to prevent the room or ofiice connected therewith from overheating. Of course, zone thermostats 67 will be provided at desired points in'the' building and will be operatively connected with the heat ing and air conditioning plant in well known manner to'f control the temperatures of the rooms.

Instead of supplying air to each room through all'of' the receiving channels 17 or 18, it is contemplated to provide openings only in certain desired receiving chair-1' nels to which are connected special air diffusers which usually would not include an acoustic filler therein. Such arrangement is shown in Fig. 6 as comprising a casing 70 which quite closely'resembles that of an acoustical'batflef casing 37 but which has closed ends and a closed top, except for an upwardly extending nipple 71 which projects" up through the opening in the receiving channel 17 or18;

.for connection with the transition section 62. In such diffuser 70,. there is preferably provided an internal baffle 72 for equalizing the air distribution'for flow into the: rooms through the casing perforations. his to be understood that these special diffusers 70 will be installed only. at selected points, whereas the remaining parts of the. system will have the acoustical baffles 37 therein or partif? tions 45.

System utilizing daylight In the system schematically illustrated in. Fig.7, the building walls are preferably windowless from the light-diffusing sub-ceiling 82 to the floor, especially the walls facing west, south, and east. Conventional ofiice building structures usually include as much window area as possible, and as a result, on clear, sunny days, window shades or Venetian blinds are closed on the west, south, and east walls to cut out the glare of the sun, thus requiring artificial lighting to the same, if not greater, extent as on dark, cloudy days.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 7, daylight is utilized to advantage to replace or to augment the artificial lighting whenever the occasion arises, by providing large window areas or large glass block 'wall areas 84 extending from the light diffusing sub-ceiling 82 to the roof 85. In the building previously described, this window area or glass block area 84 may extend around the entire building for a height of about 7 ft. the trusses 3 being about 2 ft. in depth. Of course, the wall of the building which faces north may have the usual window areas below the lightdiffusing sub-ceiling because of the absence of the glare of the sun.

The daylight passing through the wall areas 84 is diffused by the sub-ceiling 82 to provide overall, diiiused illumination of the room area. Suitable light reflectors 86 may be employed to illuminate the center areas of the room. When such diffused daylight is insufficient, selected lamps may be turned on to afford desired intensity of illumination.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A combined ventilating and acoustical device suitable for attachment to the ceiling of a room, said device comprising a hollowelongated casing having an upper imperforate wall, a lower wall, and opposite side walls;,a-

correspondingly elongated body of sound-absorbing material disposed within said casing; said body being of thickness less than the distance between such opposite side Walls and of height less than the distance between such upper and lower walls; and meanssupporting said body with opposite sides thereof spaced from the respective side walls and with its upper edge spaced below such upper wall; such side walls, only in the regions thereof below approximately the level of the upper edge of said body, being perforated whereby air supplied into the space between such upper wall and the upper edge of said body flows longitudinally therein, downwardly through the spaces between said body and the respective side walls, and thence outwardly through the perforated regions of such opposite side walls, the upper wall of said casing being provided with means for connection with an air supply'duct.

2. The device of claim 1, characterized further in that said casing comprises a channel member constituting such upperwall and the regions of such side walls that are above approximately the level of the upper edge of said body, and a generally V-shaped member detachably secured to said channel member and constituting the perforated regions of the respective side walls and such lower wall.

3. The combination, with a ceiling of a room of a framework suspended from said ceiling, said framework comprising a plurality of hollow elongated casings secured together in aligned relation to form pluralhorizontal rows of casings, each casing having an upper imperforate wall, alower wall, and opposite side walls;

correspondingly elongated bodies of sound-absorbing material disposed within the respective casings; said bodies being of thickness less than the distance between the opposite side walls of the respective casings and being of height less than the distance between the upper and lower walls of the respective casings; and means supporting said bodies with their opposite sides spaced from the side walls of the respective casings and with their upper edges spaced below the upper walls of the respective casings; the side walls of the respective casings, only in the regions thereof below approximately the levels of the upper edges of the bodies therein, being perforated whereby air supplied into the spaces between the upper walls of the respective casings and the upper edges of the respective bodies flows longitudinally therein, downwardly through the spaces between the respective bodies and the side walls of the respective casings, and thence outwardly through the perforated regions of the side walls of the respective casings, each casing having an opening in its upper wall, and air supply ducts connected with the openings of selected casings.

4. The'combination of claim 3 characterized further in that panels are supported by said framework to define a sub-ceiling area that is spaced below said ceiling, said panels extending between the unperforated side wall regions of the rows of casings, and means for supplying air into the space between said ceiling and said sub-ceiling area for flow through the openings of those casings which do not have ducts connected thereto.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein each casing comprises a channel member constituting the upper wall and upper unperforated regions of such side walls, and a generally V-shaped member detachably secured to said channel member and constituting the perforated regions of such side walls and such lower wall.

' References Cited in the file of this patent Finland Oct. 7, 

